(026) Happenstance in Ket

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Axe and sword are pulled from sling and sheath, and what little light there is catches on their honed edges.

Dorgan sets himself in the open door way behind his shield as the... thing stumbles toward him accompanied by its overpower stench. Whatever it might be, hygiene is not one of its concerns.

As it lurches, hissing, at him with long, outstretched arms, Dorgan feels his stomach grow tight and cold, and deems instinctively that whatever it is, it would be better to put his axe into its chest than to allow its claws to touch his warm flesh.

In the cramped, dark passage Josiane, and much less Percy behind her, can scarce see a thing. Josiane is more concerned with not accidentally piercing Dorgan with her sword than about coming to blows with the enemy -- which she smells but cannot glimpse.

At the rear, Mads isn't overly impressed with being ordered about by this waif but something worrying is afoot, and only a fool stumbles about in the dark. He is no fool so he sets down his pack and begins to search for his tinderbox...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
All of a sudden, it seems, the thing comes out of the dark and at Dorgan, stretching to scratch and claw at him over his shield. It is bigger by half than he, and has the reek of rotten meat about it like a cloud! His stomach roils in protest at its mere presence as he slashes his axe at it (1d20=18) cutting through its middle section perhaps too easily, and dealing (2dd=3,4) a fierce wound of 5 hit points that spills sluice of foul black gore.

But even this wound hardly seems to slow it, for it tears and grapples at him with a wild, senseless shriek as it urgently attempts to throttle the Dwarf. And it's strength is as terrible as its pong (1d20=16)!

Dorgan can sacrifice his shield, or take the hit. Which will it be Sulldawga?

Meanwhile, what will everyone else do next round? Nobody else is in a position to see the enemy yet.

[waysoftheearth]

sulldawga wrote:
Dorgan's shield is stout and dependable but it is a creation of Man, not a masterwork of his race.

As such, the dwarf is not overly fond of it. He will gladly sacrifice its protection for the chance to strike anew.

[waysoftheearth]

doctorx wrote:
Josiane attempts to maneuver herself into a position where she can at least see the foe, although she is careful not to impede Dorgan's movements. If she can strike at the horror, so much the better.

[waysoftheearth]

sulldawga wrote:
If Josiane's movements leave a place for Dorgan to back into, he will attempt a fighting retreat and allow the beast to move forward where others can engage.

If she is still behind him, Dorgan will stay in place, hacking and hewing with all his might.

If it's at all possible for him to do either of the above actions and draw a dagger with his newly-freed hand, he will do so. Alas, I envisioned a dagger being sheathed in each of his boots so perhaps not the easiest position for him to reach in the heat of battle.

[waysoftheearth]

Valandil wrote:
Can Percy shoot the thing over the dwarf? If so, he will.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Drogan allows the Man-made shield to be smashed and violently torn from his grasp as he falls back into the passage.

The foe pursues relentlessly, bursting through the doorway and assaulting the others with its putrescent odour.

Initiative is rolled (1d6; the foe=5, Drogan=3).

Drogon finds himself backing up as he fends off a barrage of deadly claw strokes (1d20=10) with his axe, and somehow finds room to retaliate by punching at the horrible fanged maw of the thing, spear-like, with his axe (1d20=6) but the passage way is too cramped!

Josiane gasps in horror as Drogan the Dwarf almost falls backward out of the room fiercely pursued by a huge, stinking corpse that flails violently at him with savage black talons. The thing has the stink of death about it and is covered with bleeding sores and wounds. She knows she must drive her gleaming sword directly into its foul back (1d20=1) but her throat tightens around a ball of hot bile, and her hand is stayed! She cannot bring herself any nearer!

Behind her Percy hardly see past Josiane, let alone shoot!

Farther back, Mads has found his tinder and is hurriedly trying to strike a flame.

What next?

[waysoftheearth]

doctorx wrote:
Lady, my friends are in peril," Josiane offers up in silent prayer; "Help me that I may help them!"

And she tries to summon up her courage to drive her sword home into the thing.

[waysoftheearth]

sulldawga wrote:
In between thrusts and parries with the ghoulish figure, Dorgan will utter a quick prayer.

"All-Father, grant me *oof* strength to *urk* strike this abomination *huff, huff* down!"(/b)(/color)

If there is time to do so without affecting his attack, the dwarf will again attempt to unsheath a dagger for his free hand. Such an off-hand weapon would be used defensively.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Initiative is rolled (1d6; the foe=3, Josiane=3, Dorgan=3).

Everything happens at once in a noisy rush!

The ghastly apparition pounces over Dorgan, smothering him with its superior height and weight (1d20=11) as he reaches for his boot dagger. The thing's claws grasp a throttling hold around his neck as he (1d20=5) attempts to fling it back with his axe, but his blow is turned aside harmlessly.

The monster hisses insanely as it squeezes the life from Dorgan, dealing him (2dd=4,1) 5 hit points and numbing the blood in his veins! But before Dorgan is chocked entirely Josiane finds her courage and (1d20=16) plunges her sword right through the fiend, dealing an almighty (2dd=6,6) 12 hit points!

Her blade punches right through the monster's chest, spilling a foul gout of black fluid, and passes within a hair of Dorgan's face!

Dorgan collapses beneath the beast as it expires (saving throw 1d20=13) feeling himself go numb all over. Suddenly he can't move, or breathe... he passes out.